SAIL chairman keen to use vacant BSL plot in Jharkhand

Seeking subsidized water and power connection for developing the unused land held by BSL, Singh said a medical college and shopping arcade projects will be started soonJaideep Deogharia | TNN | March 07, 2016, 18:04 IST

RANCHI: SAIL chairman P K Singh has expressed his willingness to utilize the vacant plot of land lying with its subsidiary Bokaro Steel Limited (BSL) for expansion of the plant, construction of a medical college and a commercial shopping arcade.

He was sharing his ideas with chief minister (CM) Raghubar Das in Ranchi on Sunday during his maiden visit to the state after being appointed chairman of the global steel major.

Seeking subsidized water and power connection for developing the unused land held by BSL, Singh said the medical college and shopping arcade projects will be started soon.

Singh said the global recession in the steel market has hit profits. He also requested Das to facilitate the renewal of iron-ore mining lease.

Responding to this, the CM directed the additional chief secretary (mines) Uday Pratap Singh to look into the matter and expedite the process of issuing lease licenses in consultaion with the officials of the mining department.

Das told Singh about an earlier decision of the state government and SAIL, which entailed that residual ores from SAIL-owned iron ore mines would be supplied to medium and small-scale enterprises for manufacturing pallets, through the Jharkhand State Mineral Development Corporation Limited (JSMDC).

Praising SAIL for doing commendable work as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR), Das asked Singh to ensure that smaller companies associated with the steel major for their business interests, should also be asked to carry out CSR activities in West Singhbhum under Kolhan division.

The area has by far remained untounched by development.

The proposal for a centralized kitchen at Manoharpur for providing mid-day meal, residential school for tribal children and an industrial training institute (ITI) in Maoist-affected Kasmar block are also on cards as part of SAIL's CSR initiatives.

Principal Secretary to the CM Sanjay Kumar, secretary to the CM Sunil Kumar Burnwal, director of dustries K Ravikumar and officials of SAIL Ranchi office were present during the meeting.

Currently, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is levied at 12 per cent on payments made for under-construction property or ready-to-move-in flats where completion certificate has not been issued at the time of sale.